I transmigrated to a chaotic world and became the sole player.

"Congratulations on successfully joining the sect [Qingyun Dao Sect (Yunmengze Branch)], unlocking the sect system module!"

"New identity acquired: [Qingyun Dao Sect, Yunmeng Marsh, Outer Disciple (Miscellaneous Service Level)]"

"Initial contribution points: 100 (Special approval from Yunmengze)"

"Activate the following functional modules: [Task Hall (Sect)], [Contribution Exchange (Sect)], [Cave Residence Management (Personal)], and [Fellow Disciples Directory (View Basic Information)]."

"Received [Qingyun Dao Sect Outer Disciple Attire (Set)] x1, [Qingyun Dao Sect Identity Jade Token (Outer Sect)] x1, [Basic Cultivation Supplies Pack (Outer Sect)] x1, [Cave Key (Grade C)] x1, which have been automatically stored in [Human Skin Pouch (System Extension)]."

"Side Quest Triggered: [Adapting to Sect Life (Part 1)]. Requirements: Familiarize yourself with the outer sect area of ​​Yunmengze, visit at least three fellow disciples (you can view their basic information), and complete at least one daily sect task (optional). Rewards: Experience +500, Contribution Points +50, [Random Sect Specialty (Low)] x1."

"Notice: Your current spiritual root status is determined to be [Mixed Conflict - Unknown Rank (Tentatively Ding Lower)], but you possess special talents [Hidden Dragon Sleep (Unique)], [Refining Spirit Technique (Unique)], and the incompletely unlocked [??? (Panel Core)]. The sect's conventional cultivation methods may have limited effects on you. Please explore on your own or utilize the system functions for assistance."

In his mind, the panel's notification sounds rang out one after another, and cold text scrolled by line after line, carrying a sense of detachment that was out of place with the surrounding ancient, solemn, and otherworldly environment, belonging to the "game." Lu Zhao followed behind Lin Qingfeng, walking on the winding bluestone path in the outer gate area of ​​Yunmengze, digesting this information while looking around.

Yunmeng Marsh, rather than being a sect, is more like a blessed land of immortals built within the vast Yunmeng Marsh, shrouded in mist and dotted with islands. They are currently in the outer "Outer Disciple Area," where buildings are mostly constructed of bluestone and spirit wood, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, exuding a rustic and natural charm. Along the roads, spirit fields stretch out, planted with various spirit grains and herbs gleaming with spiritual light. Outer disciples are busy in the fields, most displaying green or white markers above their heads indicating "Outer Disciple (Miscellaneous)" or "Outer Disciple (Ordinary)," along with health bars of varying lengths representing their friendship level or status. Further away, there are rows of houses and courtyards, as well as several tall and imposing palaces, which are the "Hall of Affairs", "Passing on Skills Pavilion", "Alchemy Pavilion", "Talisman Pavilion" and other buildings. Above the palaces, there are golden signs such as "[Building: Hall of Affairs (Quests can be accepted)]" and "[Building: Passing on Skills Pavilion (Basic skills can be learned)]".

The concentration of spiritual energy in the air was several times higher than in Qingyun Town; a single breath was invigorating. In the distance, the vast marshland stretched out, cranes soared, and mythical beasts appeared and disappeared—a scene of celestial grandeur. However, to Lu Zhao, all of this resembled a high-definition, realistic, yet utterly jarringly user-interfaced fantasy game scene.

"Junior Brother Lu, this is the 'Hall of Affairs.' You will come here to receive your identity jade token, change your clothes, accept missions, exchange contribution points, and report matters. I will take you inside to complete the entry procedures." Lin Qingfeng pointed to a magnificent hall in front of him, with two stone lions in front of the gate and the golden sign of the [Hall of Affairs] floating above it.

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother." Lu Zhao nodded, his gaze sweeping over the outer disciples coming and going in the plaza in front of the hall, all wearing green and white badges on their heads. Many people saw him, especially noticing his ordinary rogue cultivator's robes that he hadn't changed out of, and that Lin Qingfeng was personally accompanying him. They cast curious, inquisitive, and even somewhat gloating and disdainful glances at him. Clearly, the news that he, with his "crippled spiritual root," had been exceptionally accepted into the outer sect by Elder Yunmeng had spread like wildfire throughout the outer sect.

"Look, isn't that Lu Zhao? The one whose spirit root was found to be useless on the spirit testing platform?"

"That's him. Senior Brother Lin is personally leading him. It seems Elder Yun really intends to protect him."

"Hmph, a useless spiritual root, so what if you get into the outer sect? Without resources and talent, you'll still be a piece of trash sooner or later!"

"I heard he killed Wang Biao of the Black Tiger Gang in Qingyun Town yesterday?"

"Did you just get incredibly lucky? Or did you use some insidious methods? Refining Qi to level three while killing someone at level five? Who would believe that!"

"Shh, keep your voice down, Senior Brother Lin is here..."

Whispers, buzzing like flies, reached Lu Zhao's ears clearly. But his expression remained calm, as if he hadn't heard a thing. To him, these discussions even seemed somewhat "comical." Because he could see that above the heads of those disciples who pointed at him and looked at him with disdain, besides the official badge, there were also small speech bubbles with exclamation marks or questions. Clicking on them (with just focused attention) would reveal more detailed information, such as: [Zhang San, Outer Disciple (Ordinary), Qi Refining Level 3, holds a 'mild hostility' towards you, friendliness -10], [Li Si, Outer Disciple (Miscellaneous), Qi Refining Level 2, holds a 'curiosity' towards you, friendliness +5], [Wang Wu, Outer Disciple (Ordinary), Qi Refining Level 4, holds a 'jealousy' towards you, friendliness -20]... Some disciples even had quest prompts above their heads such as: [Daily Quest Triggerable: Help Take Care of the Spirit Field (Time Required: 2 hours, Reward: 5 Contribution Points, 100 Experience Points)], [Side Quest Triggerable: Find the Lost Storage Bag (Clue: Near the Spirit Beast Garden)]

"This panel makes the interpersonal relationships and task system way too 'gamified'..." Lu Zhao thought to himself, but he had to admit that it was indeed very convenient. At least, it was clear at a glance who was hostile to him and who was curious about him. Moreover, although the rewards for those daily tasks were not high, every little bit helps, and they were very attractive to him, who was currently penniless.

Upon entering the Hall of Affairs, a solemn and dignified atmosphere immediately enveloped him. The hall was spacious, with carved beams and painted rafters, and the floor gleamed like a mirror. Long counters lined both sides, behind which sat composed disciples in blue Taoist robes, handling various matters. On the wall directly opposite the entrance hung a massive, smooth stone panel, resembling a jade disc, densely covered with scrolling text—a quest posting wall. Lu Zhao stared intently; the text automatically transformed into the format of a game quest panel in his eyes:

Daily Task: Clean the outer plaza (Level D), Requirements: Qi Refining Level 1 or above, Time Limit: Today, Reward: 3 Contribution Points, 50 Experience Points. (Remaining Slots: 5/10)

[Daily Task: Care for the Cubs in the Spirit Beast Garden (Grade C), Requirements: Qi Refining Level 2 or above, Spirit Beast Affinity, Time Limit: 3 days, Rewards: 10 Contribution Points/day, 200 Experience Points/day. (Remaining Slots: 2/5)]

[Gathering Task: Collect ten-year-old Qingxin Grass (Grade D). Requirements: Qi Refining Level 1 or higher. Time Limit: 5 days. Rewards: 5 Contribution Points/plant, 100 Experience Points/plant, no upper limit.]

[Hunting Mission: Clear out the 'Poisonous Water Crocodiles' (Level C) on the outskirts of Yunmeng Marsh. Requirements: Qi Refining Level 3 or higher. Team recommended: 2-3 people. Time limit: 10 days. Rewards: 50 Contribution Points/crocodile, 500 Experience Points/crocodile. Materials from the Poisonous Water Crocodiles belong to the individual hunter.]

[Special Mission: Assist the Pill Refining Pavilion in crafting 'Grain-Breaking Pills' (Grain-Breaking) (Level B). Requirements: Qi Refining Level 3 or above, basic knowledge of alchemy or fire control techniques. Time Limit: Long-term. Rewards: Contribution points calculated based on the quantity and quality of pills crafted, and substantial experience points. (Requires passing the Pill Refining Pavilion's assessment)]...

The tasks are diverse, ranging from cleaning and caring for spirit beasts to gathering spiritual herbs and hunting demonic beasts, as well as specialized technical tasks such as alchemy, talisman making, and array formation. The rewards vary accordingly. Lu Zhao glanced at them and made a decision. These daily, gathering, and hunting tasks weren't too difficult for him; they were perfect for earning contribution points and experience, familiarizing himself with the environment, and honing his combat and gathering skills.

"Senior Brother Lin, you've arrived. This must be... the newly initiated Junior Brother Lu, right?" A young cultivator sitting behind the counter, with a kind face and the mark above his head that reads "[Deacon Disciple (Ordinary), Qi Refining Level 4, holds 'Curiosity' towards you, Friendship +5]", immediately stood up upon seeing Lin Qingfeng, a professional smile on his face.

"That's right. Junior Brother Wang, this is Junior Brother Lu Zhao. Elder Yun has specially approved his registration as an outer disciple. Please process his entry formalities, issue him his identity jade token, clothing, basic supplies, and assign him a Class C cave dwelling." Lin Qingfeng said to the disciple surnamed Wang, his tone gentle but carrying the authority of an inner disciple.

"Yes, Senior Brother Lin." Deacon Wang quickly replied, taking out a jade book and a talisman pen from under the counter. He then took out a palm-sized, emerald-green, and warm jade-like jade tablet, looked at Lu Zhao, and said politely, "Junior Brother Lu, please state your name, age, place of origin, and cultivation level. Drop a drop of your essence blood onto this jade tablet, and it will complete the recognition process and generate your identity information."

Lu Zhao obeyed, reporting the information he had already prepared: "Lu Zhao, seventeen years old, from Qingmu Town, Luoxia County, Qi Refining Level 3." Then he bit his fingertip, squeezing out a drop of blood, which he dripped onto the jade tablet. The blood instantly seeped into the jade tablet, which emitted a soft white light, and the words "Lu Zhao, outer disciple of Yunmengze, ID: Ding 379, contribution points: 100" appeared on its surface. At the same time, Lu Zhao felt a faint connection between himself and the jade tablet.

"Alright, Junior Brother Lu, this is your identity jade token. Keep it safe and do not lose or lend it. With this token, you can enter and exit most areas of the outer sect, accept and deliver tasks, exchange supplies, and record contributions. If lost, you must report it immediately; a replacement will deduct 100 contribution points." Deacon Wang handed the jade token to Lu Zhao and then took out a package. "This contains two sets of outer sect disciple clothing, which offer basic dust protection, warmth, and a slight increase in spiritual energy absorption. This is a basic cultivation supplies package, containing ten low-grade spirit stones, one bottle each of Qi-replenishing pills and Grain-expanding pills (ten pills), one copy of the *Qingyun Dao Sect Outer Sect Disciple Rules*, one jade slip of the *Basic Qi-Inducing Technique (General)*, and one map of the *Yunmengze Outer Sect Area Details*. Please keep it safe."

Lu Zhao took the package and jade token, and with a thought, they vanished instantly, stored in the [Human Skin Pouch (System Extension)]. This miraculous scene made Deacon Wang's eyelids twitch, but considering that he was specially approved by Elder Yun, it wasn't surprising that he might possess some special storage artifact. He simply became even more respectful.

"As for the cave dwelling..." Deacon Wang took out another thick booklet and flipped through it. "A Class C cave dwelling is located in the mountainside area of ​​'Green Bamboo Peak' in the outer sect. The spiritual energy is decent, enough for early-stage Qi Refining cultivators to cultivate. Currently, there's one available... 'Green Bamboo Peak, Class C, Number 27.' The location is a bit remote, but still quite quiet, and not too far from the 'Transmission Pavilion' and 'Mission Hall.' This is the cave dwelling restriction token; injecting spiritual energy will open or close the cave dwelling restriction. Inside the cave dwelling, there is a simple spirit gathering array, a meditation room, a pill-making room, and a spirit field (which needs to be cultivated by oneself). A monthly maintenance fee of 10 contribution points is required. Junior Brother Lu, what do you think?"

"This place will do, thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother." Lu Zhao took the token, which was a palm-sized wooden plaque engraved with the words "Bing Erqi". It was slightly heavy in his hand and faintly fluctuated with spiritual energy.

"You're welcome, it's my duty," Deacon Wang said with a smile, then lowered his voice and kindly reminded him, "Junior Brother Lu, you're new here, and Elder Yun gave you special permission, so it's inevitable that you'll attract attention. The outer sect... isn't all peaceful. Some people might... well, anyway, it's always good to be careful and keep a low profile. If you have any difficulties, you can come to the Deacon Hall to find me, or go directly to Senior Brother Lin."

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother. I will remember it." Lu Zhao bowed and thanked him. This Steward Wang, his friendliness increased by 5 points; it seems he was genuinely offering his advice.

"Alright, the formalities are complete. Junior Brother Lu, I'll take you there to familiarize yourself with the area and then introduce you to some of your fellow disciples, so you can look after them in the future." Lin Qingfeng nodded to Deacon Wang and said to Lu Zhao.

"Thank you for your help, Senior Brother." Lu Zhao thanked him again. He knew that Lin Qingfeng was intentionally paving the way for him and reducing unnecessary trouble.

The two left the Hall of Affairs and walked along the bluestone path towards the depths of the outer gate. Along the way, Lin Qingfeng introduced Lu Zhao to the functions of various buildings and facilities, as well as some unwritten rules of the outer gate and people to be aware of. Lu Zhao listened attentively, silently taking notes. At the same time, his [Refining Spirit Technique] senses quietly spread out, and combined with the [Mini Map (Cloud Dream Marsh Outer Gate Area Unlocked)] function on the panel, he imprinted the surrounding terrain, buildings, and character markers into his mind.

"That's the 'Transmission Pavilion.' On the first and fifteenth of each month, inner sect senior brothers or deacons hold lectures here, imparting basic spells and cultivation insights. At other times, you can also spend contribution points to exchange for cultivation techniques and spell jade slips. However, outer sect disciples can currently only exchange for the most basic low-grade and mid-grade Yellow Rank cultivation techniques and spells." Lin Qingfeng pointed to an ancient, three-story pavilion with the [Transmission Pavilion] sign.

"Those are the 'Dan Ding Pavilion,' 'Talisman Pavilion,' and 'Weapon Refining Workshop.' They are places to learn the skills of alchemy, talisman making, and weapon refining. Finished pills, talismans, and magical artifacts are also sold and exchanged, but they are quite expensive and require corresponding contribution points or spirit stones. If you want to learn, you must first pass the basic assessment and become a disciple of the corresponding pavilion master before you can receive instruction." Lin Qingfeng then pointed to several buildings of different styles, all of which exuded a rich aroma of medicine, talismanic light, and the aura of weapon fire.

"That's the 'Duel Arena.' If disciples have grudges, they must not fight in private. They can settle them on the Duel Arena, where stewards will supervise and stop when the fight is over. But... swords have no eyes, and injuries are inevitable, so be careful." Lin Qingfeng pointed to a platform shrouded in an array, resembling a gladiatorial arena, and said in a serious tone.

"That's the 'Dining Hall,' which provides spiritual food to replenish physical strength and slightly improve cultivation. It requires contribution points or spirit stones. Of course, you can also cook for yourself or take fasting pills."

"That's the 'Spirit Beast Garden' and the 'Hundred Herbs Garden,' where sects tame spirit beasts and cultivate spiritual herbs, and where related missions are also issued."

As they walked and received introductions, Lu Zhao gained a general understanding of the outer sect of Yunmengze. This place, rather than being a sect, was more like a fully-equipped, hierarchical "cultivation community." There was a "shop" (contribution exchange) providing cultivation resources, "guilds" (quest halls) for issuing quests, "class halls" (various skill pavilions) for learning skills, "arenas" (duel platforms) for resolving conflicts, and "living areas" (dining hall, cave dwellings) providing food and lodging. And he was currently the lowest-ranking, least talented "newbie player" in this "community," but who, due to "special circumstances," was attracting considerable attention.

After walking for about half an hour, we arrived at the foot of a lush, verdant mountain, nestled amidst a bamboo grove. The spiritual energy here was even stronger, the air filled with a faint fragrance of bamboo and earth. The mountain was not high, but quite beautiful, and a winding pebble path led up to several caves shrouded in protective light at the mountainside.

"This is Green Bamboo Peak. Most of the outer sect's Class C and Class D cave dwellings are concentrated here. Your 'Class C27' is halfway up the mountain. I'll take you up." Lin Qingfeng said, stepping onto the path first.

The two walked up the path, one after the other. Along the way, they occasionally encountered other outer sect disciples. Upon seeing Lin Qingfeng, they all bowed and greeted him, casting curious, scrutinizing, and even disdainful glances at Lu Zhao. Lu Zhao remained composed, silently observing the insignia and friendliness levels above their heads.

Soon, they arrived at a relatively secluded corner halfway up the mountain. Here, there was a row of more than a dozen caves, built against the mountainside. The entrances of the caves were covered by vines and moss, and if you didn't look closely, they would almost blend into the mountain. At the entrance of each cave, there was a wooden plaque with a number engraved on it, as well as a layer of faint, semi-transparent protective light.

"C127, this is it." Lin Qingfeng stopped in front of a cave. The wooden plaque numbering the cave was a bit old, and the protective light barrier seemed weaker than that of other caves. There were some fallen leaves piled up at the entrance, indicating that no one had lived there for a long time.

Lu Zhao took out the restriction token and infused it with a wisp of spiritual power. The token flashed with a faint light, shooting out a beam of white light that entered the restriction barrier. The barrier rippled outwards like water, revealing an opening about seven feet high and four feet wide. The opening was somewhat dark, but well-ventilated and without any musty smell.

"Let's go in and take a look. The cave is simply furnished, but the basic facilities are complete. If there is any damage, you can report it to the Hall of Affairs for repair, but you will need to pay contribution points," Lin Qingfeng said.

Lu Zhao nodded and stepped into the cave. The cave was not large, about three zhang square, and divided into three parts: the front hall, the meditation room, and the alchemy room. The front hall was empty, with only a stone table and a few stone stools. In the meditation room, there was only a simple futon and a stone platform engraved with a basic spirit-gathering array. In the alchemy room, there was a low stone alchemy furnace and a small fire pit for igniting earth fire. In a corner, there was a small patch of spirit field, about half an acre in size, enclosed by an array, but it was currently barren and overgrown with weeds. Several moonstones emitting a soft white light were embedded in the ceiling of the cave, illuminating the interior.

Although simple, it was enough for Lu Zhao. It was quiet and safe, with a basic spirit-gathering array and a small spirit field where he could try planting some spiritual herbs. Most importantly, it was his own territory, where he could cultivate, study talismans, and try alchemy (although he didn't know how yet) without worrying about being spied on.

"Very good, thank you, senior brother." Lu Zhao nodded in satisfaction.

"I'm glad you like it." Lin Qingfeng smiled. "Come on, I'll take you to meet some of your fellow disciples. They live nearby, so it'll be good to have someone to look after you in the future. By the way, you know one of them too."

"Oh? Who is it?" Lu Zhao asked curiously.

"It's that kid Zhang Tie. He's also assigned to Qingzhu Peak, and his cave isn't far from yours, it's 'C19'. His injuries are mostly healed, and he's recuperating in his cave, and also... well, getting familiar with the surroundings." Lin Qingfeng said, a helpless smile on his face.

Lu Zhao suddenly realized that Zhang Tie's free-spirited personality meant he was probably bored out of his mind to "familiarize himself with the environment." Well, it's good to have an acquaintance nearby so he won't feel too stifled.

The two left Cave 27, and Lin Qingfeng waved his hand to reactivate the restrictions. Then, leading Lu Zhao, they headed towards Cave 19, which wasn't far away. Just as they reached the entrance, they heard Zhang Tie's signature loud voice coming from inside, boasting to someone:

"...Hey! You didn't see it! Back then, that Wang Biao, a fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator, was so arrogant! He even had a knife to my neck! My senior brother was entangled by him, and it looked like I was about to die! In the blink of an eye! A black shadow flashed, and whoosh! Several poison needles, so accurate! Then, with a loud bang, a fireball slammed down! And then, Lu Engong, no, I mean Senior Brother Lu, he descended like a god, one strike! Just one strike! Guess what? That bastard Wang Biao's wrist was gone! Another strike, and splat! A huge hole in his chest! Dead as dead as can be! So clean and neat! Cool! So damn cool!"

"Really? Zhang Tie, don't exaggerate! That Lu Zhao... I heard the Spirit Testing Platform showed he had a useless spiritual root, only at the third level of Qi Refining, yet he could kill Wang Biao, who was at the fifth level of Qi Refining, with a single strike?"

"Exactly! He's just bragging without thinking! With a useless spiritual root, how much ability could he possibly have? It must have been Senior Brother Lin who secretly intervened!"

"Bullshit! I saw it with my own eyes! Senior Brother Lin was tied up with those two bastards, how could he have time to fight? It was Senior Brother Lu who did it all by himself! You don't believe me? When Senior Brother Lu arrives, you can ask him yourselves! By the way, Senior Brother Lu is now a specially approved outer disciple by Elder Yun, just like us! From now on, we're fellow disciples! Don't look down on him!"

"Tch, an outer disciple with useless spiritual roots, isn't it all about connections? How much of a future can he possibly have? He'll probably be relegated to menial tasks in a couple of days!"

"That's right, Zhang Tie, don't call him Senior Brother Lu so affectionately. He's a favorite of Elder Yun now, he might not even look at a brute like you!"

"you……!"

From inside the cave came Zhang Tie's furious voice, along with several unfamiliar, mocking laughs.

Lin Qingfeng frowned, glanced at Lu Zhao, and seeing that he was calm and showed no anger, he felt slightly relieved, but his face also darkened. He stepped forward and knocked on the cave's protective barrier.

The room fell silent, then the barrier opened, revealing Zhang Tie's flushed face and three young men behind him, dressed in outer sect disciple robes, of similar age but with arrogant expressions. Above each of the three youths floated a marker: [Outer Sect Disciple (Ordinary), Qi Refining Level 3/4, harbors 'mild hostility/disdain' towards you, Friendship -15/-20].

"Senior Brother! Senior Brother Lu! You've arrived!" Zhang Tie's face lit up with joy when he saw Lin Qingfeng and Lu Zhao, and he quickly made way for them.

"Zhang Tie, what nonsense are you spouting?" Lin Qingfeng coldly glanced at the three youths. "Fellow disciples should get along harmoniously. How can you gossip and slander behind people's backs? Apologize to Junior Brother Lu now!"

The three youths, upon seeing Lin Qingfeng, stiffened, their arrogance vanishing, though their eyes still held resentment. The taller youth, at the fourth level of Qi Refining, reluctantly cupped his hands and said, "Senior Brother Lin, we were merely curious, with no ill intentions. Junior Brother Lu… Junior Brother Lu, being able to kill Wang Biao, who was at the fifth level of Qi Refining, with only the third level of Qi Refining, must… possess extraordinary abilities. However, everyone has seen the results of the Spirit Testing Platform, and inevitably… some doubts arise. We hope Junior Brother Lu will not take offense."

He said "Don't be offended," but everyone could hear the doubt and disdain in his tone.

Lu Zhao looked at the three people, then at the icons and friendliness levels above their heads, and suddenly found it somewhat amusing. This scene was strikingly similar to the skepticism and exclusion that newbies in some online games face towards players with connections or suspected of cheating. Far from being angry, he actually felt a sense of "kindness"—after all, this was the normal game ecosystem.

He stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to the tall young man, and gave a smile that could be described as "honest" or even a little "naive." In a very sincere tone, even carrying the air of a "new player" seeking advice from a "veteran player," he said, "This senior brother is right. I was quite surprised by the results of the Spirit Testing Platform myself. Perhaps my cultivation technique is rather...special? Or maybe I wasn't in good condition the day the spirit stones were tested? As for Wang Biao's situation, it was actually a fluke. He was hit by my poison needle and underestimated me, which is how I got the advantage. I'll need your guidance in the future, senior brothers, to do quests, fight monsters, and earn contribution points together!"

His words were sincere, his posture extremely humble, and he even proactively "explained" the "doubts" and mentioned "doing tasks together," completely behaving like a "newbie seeking guidance." Combined with his disguised, slightly sallow, and dull face, and the shabby clothes he hadn't had time to change out of, he perfectly portrayed the image of a new disciple who "got lucky, had terrible aptitude, but a great attitude and desperately wanted to fit in."

The three youths, including Zhang Tie and even Lin Qingfeng, were completely bewildered by Lu Zhao's sudden change in demeanor, a stark contrast to his ruthless and decisive actions when he killed Wang Biao. Was this... was this still the same Lu Zhao who had severed a wrist with a single strike and killed a fifth-level Qi Refining expert? It felt like... he was a completely different person.

The tall young man paused for a moment, then subconsciously replied, "Uh... sure, sure. Doing missions... um, maybe we can do it together sometime." The two people behind him exchanged glances, unsure of what expression to make. Hostility and disdain seemed powerless against this "sincerely naive" charm.

Zhang Tie stared wide-eyed at Lu Zhao and then at Lin Qingfeng, his expression seemingly saying: Senior Brother, has Senior Brother Lu been possessed?

Only Lu Zhao silently gave the panel a thumbs up in his heart. See, this is the self-cultivation of a "gamer"—why resort to violence when problems can be solved with "role-playing" and "rhetoric"? Fighting is no good; let's have a harmonious game and progress together. Although, he wouldn't mind letting these "NPCs" rediscover what it means to "play dumb to fool others" when necessary.